Machine for disintegrating ores



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. HIGLEY.

MACHINE FOR DISINTEGRATING 0113s.

No. 330,115. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. HIGLEY.

MACHINE FOR DISINTEGRATING DRES- No. 330,115. Patented Nov. 10, 1885:

UNITED STATES PATENT AARON HIGLEY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MACHINE FOR DISINTEGRATING ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,115, dated November 10, 1885,

Application filed June 17, 1885. Serial No. 168,936. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON HIGLEY, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Disintegrating Ores; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull and complete description thereof.

My invention relates especially to that class of reducing-machines wherein the previouslypulverized ore is ground in areceptacle charged with water, and in which the process of reducing the ore to a pulpy mass may be facilitated and more fully perfected by a high degree of heat, produced by steam of a high pressure inducted into the receptacle with or without the use of chemicals.

The special object of my invention is to provide an ore-reducing machine having a comparatively small diameter with a large working capacity, and which at the same time shall be an inexpensive structure, easy to adjust, light to handle, strong, and durable.

My invention also relates to a device for keeping the reduced pulverized ore or pulp from the driving-shaft at its junction with the stuffing -box, and thereby preventing undue wearing of the shaft at that particular place.

The construction of the machine and the practical working of the same are substantially as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings for illustration, and making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse section of the machine. Fig. 2 is a view of the top. Fig. 3 is a detached view of a set of mullers, and Fig. 4 is a detached View of a grinding-bed. Fig. 5is a transverse detached sectional view through the line a: m, Fig. 4.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in the several views.

The body of the machine consists of a metal cylinder,A, the bottom B of which is a thick metal plate, to which the end of the cylinder is firmly secured by an annular series of bolts or rivets, twoof which are shown atom in Fig. 1. Said cylinder is supported on a suitablyconstructed frame, 0, to which it is secured by bolts 12 b. On the cross-piece D is a step,

E, in which the end of the shaft F stands. Said shaft is revolved by the gearing H I, on the shaft F, and counter-shaft J, the latter having the driving-pulley K. The shaft F passes centrally through the bottom of the cylinder, and extends upward therein to the cross-piece L, in which the end isjournaled in a suitable box, and thereby retained in a vertical position. Said shaft is made tight in its passage through the bottom of the cylinder by a stuffing-box, M, whereof N is the gland, O the packing, and c the bolts for securing the gland to the box. In connection with the stuffingbox is a chambered collar, 1?, through which the shaft passes, but not in contact therewith, there being a narrow space, d, between the shaft and the collar, whereby the chamber of the collar is put in communication with the interior of the cylinder for a purpose presently to be stated.

f and g are the induction-openings of the above-described chambered collar and studing-box combined. Into the opening 9 ofsaid chamber is screwed one end of the pipe Q, which extends therefrom to the edge of the cylinder and upward along the side thereof, and is provided with a stop-cock, h, substantially as shown in the drawings. Into the opening f of the chambered collar is also screwed one end of a pipe, R, which extends therefrom to the edge of the cylinder and upward along the side, and is furnished witha stop-cock, t.

In the cylinder above alluded to is arranged a vertical series of grinding-beds having adapted thereto a corresponding series of revolving mullers. Each of the grindingbeds consists of a wide metal ring, A, Fig. 1, provided with a circumferential flange, B, a detached view of one of the beds being shown in Fig. 4., of which Fig. 5 is a transversefsection. The space G, between the flange B and the central opening, D, forms the grinding surface on which the mullers revolve.

The several grinding-beds fit closely in the cylinder, but sufficiently free to admit of their being easily placed therein and as easily removed therefrom, and they are prevented from turning around in the cylinder by pins a,proj ecting through the sides thereof into the studs in of the grinding-beds; but other suitable means may be used for that purpose.

A plan view of one set of the series of mullers used in connection with the grinding-beds is shown in Fig. 3, in which it will be noticed that it consists of three radial arms, E, projecting from a hub, F, fitted loosely to the shaft F. In the eye of the hub is a feather, 0, adapted to slide in the groove 1) in the side of the shaft, so that the hub, arms, and the mullers G G G attached thereto may be revolved, and at the same time be permitted a vertical movement in the cylinder.

The connection of the mullers to the arms is by means of studs n, projecting from the mullers through slots in the arms, and are secured therein by pins a. Said studs are free to move in the slots, thereby allowing aradial movement of the mullers in their connection with their respective arms.

Three mullers are mentioned and shown in the drawings as forming a set; but more or less of them may be used in a set. It is preferred, however, to have but three in each set.

The grinding-beds, with their respective mullers, are arranged in the cylinder as shown in Fig. 1, and are introduced therein as follows: The grinding-bed 1 is lowered into the cylinder to the bottom thereof, on which it rests. Then a set of mullers is lowered therein onto the grinding bed within the annular flange B. Then a second grindingbed is lowered into the cylinder onto the studs m,whereon the bed rests, and is supported thereby above the grinding-bed and the mullers previously introduced, and so on until all the grindingbeds, with their respective sets of mullers, are placed therein that may be required to complete the machine, and which, as above said, may contain more or less in number. The studs m, above alluded to, also serve as deflectors for throwing the ore toward the center of the cylinder while being ground.

By arranging the grinding-beds in the cylinder one above the other is obtained alarge grinding'surface in a comparatively small cylinder, and as the arms or frames to which the mullers are attached are free to move downward on the driving-shaft, the mullers are continuously kept in contact with the grindingbeds as they may continuously wear away, and which,when worn out, are easily removed, to be replaced by new ones or for repairs.

The several grinding-beds and mullers being properly arranged in the cylinder, and the end of the shaft secured in the cross-piece L, the cylinder is then closed bythe cover H, attached thereto, as follows I, Fig. 1, is a collar around the end of the cylinder, secured thereto by rivets. In the edge of the collar is a series of notches corresponding to the notches c in the edge of the cover H. In the notches h of the collar are pivoted the ends of the bolts J, Fig. 1, which project upward therefrom through the notches in the cover, which serve as holes for the bolts, and over which are screwed the nuts for bolting the cover down upon the cylinder. K is a man-hole, through which access may be had to the intecharged with water as to cover the grindingbeds. The mullers are then put in motion,and a desired amount of pulverized ore thrown into the cylinder through the manhole, and to which may be added chemicals, if so desired. If steam is used,the man-hole must be closed steam-tight, and the steam inducted into the cylinder through the pipe Q, connected to a steam generator. (Not shown in the drawings.)

The amount of steam and the degree of pressure required will depend upon the nature of the ore being ground, which is held and the pressure continued until the ore is reduced to a pulp suitable for amalgamation. The whole mass is then drawn off through the cock P.

As the mullers revolve in the operation of grinding, the centrifugal force impels them outward to the flanges B, thereby grinding the ore between the flanges and the ends of the mullers, as well as upon the main grinding-surface of the beds, and as the connection of the mullers with the arms is such as to allow them a radial movement, they are continued in contact with the flanges as they are worn away in the process of grinding.

During. the operation of grinding the tendency of the mass of pulp is downward, and to prevent it from passing through the stuffingbox,and by that means avoid undue and rapid Wearing of the shaft, is the use of the chambered collar,in combination with the stuffingbox'above described; The force of the water and the pressure of the steam passing into the chamber, thence around the shaft into the cylinder, tend to drive the soft pulpy mass away from the stuffing-box,leaving it free and clean of the pulp; hence there is no undue wearing of the shaftin its connection with the stuffing box. The amount of water and steam admitted into the cylinder will be more or less, as the condition of the ore being ground may demand, and which is regulated for that purpose by the cocks h and i.

It is not essential that the grinding-beds and the mullers be of the exact form and numbers shown and described, as they are susceptible of various modifications and of numbers. Nor is it material that the mullers be attached to the arms in the manner shown and I do not confine myself to the exact shape and construction of the combined stuffing-box and chambered collar, as the same may be changed and modified without affecting its essential features. 7

That which distinguishes my machine from others of this class, and which I desire to se cure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for disintegrating ores, the series of removable grinding-beds, each having a circumferential flange and projecting passage f, and the steam-pipe Q with the steam-passage 9, all constructed substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AARON HIGLEY.

Witnesses:

J. H. BURRIDGE, G. J. HARDWAY. 

